GUEST BLOGGER
Liza Ayres
Contributing Writer

With the holidays approaching, it’s important to stay vigilant about possible electronic hacking, especially while traveling. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans plan to spend about $1,047.83 per household this holiday season, which amounts to an estimated $727.9 to $730.7 billion total in holiday retail sales for 2019. This is no small bit of change, so fraudsters will be very tempted to try every means possible to get your valuable information, such as personally identifying information (PII), credit card information, or login information. Having to deal with compromised credit cards or identity theft is the last thing anyone wants to wrestle with during this festive and busy time.

Here are four ways to keep your devices secure and free from harm this holiday season.

1. Beware the airport, train station or hotel USB charging station.

Hackers could be waiting to steal personal information through USB ports at public charging stations. “Juice jacking,” as it is called, occurs when unsuspecting users plug their electronic devices into USB ports or use USB cables that have been loaded with malware. The malware gives cybercriminals a way into your device’s software, allowing them to read and export data, such as passwords, and even allowing them to lock the device and make it unusable. To stay secure, consider buying a portable charger.

2. Always travel with your own USB cable for charging your devices.

Some USB cables may have been purposely placed in a public space by cybercriminals hoping to exploit travelers’ phones. Additionally, take caution in accepting USB cables that are given away as promotional gifts. Liviu Arsene, a cybersecurity expert at BitDefender, a cybersecurity and antivirus software company, warns, “you can easily brand these things so you can make it look like any other cable...when people see it, they don’t really think or expect it to be malicious in any way.”

3. Use an AC power outlet, not a USB charging station.

It is also easy for cybercriminals to directly modify the USB outlets, not just the USB cables. If the attackers have physical access to the outlet, they can take out the harmless port and replace it with their own malicious hardware. The growing presence of public USB charging stations has increased the risk of falling victim to such scams. To avoid potential threats, only charge directly from the AC electrical outlet instead of through the USB outlet.

4. Don’t use public Wi-Fi without a VPN or personal hotspot.

Even if you’re scrambling to buy last-minute gifts, it’s worth it to wait until you are on a secure Wi-Fi network that you trust before inputting your credit card information. Unfortunately, most public Wi-Fi networks can be easily hacked, allowing attackers to steal encrypted data and compromise credit card accounts. We also recommend investing in a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which can help protect the data and privacy of your devices. Another option to ensure your Wi-Fi connection is not intercepted by malicious actors is to carry a personal hotspot (or use your phone’s hotspot).

Holiday travel can be hectic and stressful, but by following these tips, you won’t have to worry (as much) about your device being hacked and your secure information being stolen.

You can greatly mitigate risks posed by computer frauds such as malware, social engineering techniques and unauthorized access of sensitive data by staying up to date on cybersecurity best practices. If you’d like to learn even more ways to keep yourself and your organization safe, our nano course, Cybersecurity Best Practices, will help you identify methods of preventing or deterring computer and internet fraud.

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